A storm system swept the state, bringing winds to 50 mph and more, the threat of a large hail and possible tornadoes early Friday, including tornado warnings issued at least eight counties.
Tornado warnings were issued for the counties of Livingston, Northeast Saginaw, Southern Bay and southeast of midland until 12:45 am; And until 1 a.m. for the County of Saginaw.
Preliminary reports indicated that a tornado struck Waverly in the middle of Michigan around 11:36 p.m. Thursday, overthrowing a semi-trailer semitrator on Highway Millet. The meteorological service said that “the location is in the signing of tornado debris on the radar”.
Last Friday, more than 206,000 energy consumers were without electricity, according to the company’s panel map. Most were centered in western Michigan and a group extending from Kalamazoo to Ann Arbor. DTE Energy has brought about 4,689 customers without electricity.
Winds have gusts up to 76 mi / h have struck Springfield. Grand Haven reported 68 mph winds; Portage, 66 ;, and Cascade and Edgemont Park, 61. The damage reports included Whitehall, Norton Shores, Battle Creek, Easton Rapids, Tri Cities International Airport and Flint Bishop International Airport, according to the Weather service.
The Detroit metro has prepared for serious storms with tornado watches in force until 5 am on Friday. Northern Lower Michigan watches were issued until 3 am on Friday.
At 10:30 p.m., the National Weather Service had active tornado warnings for the northeast and southern Kent, the northwest of Montcalm, the northeast of Eaton, the northeast of Algan, the south of Ionia and the counties of the northeast of Barry. The meteorological service also issued a tornado warning for the county of Ingham in the Michigan Center-South until 12:15 p.m. Friday.
The warnings said that storms capable of producing tornadoes had been identified in these areas, traveling to the East.
Another tornado warning is in effect for the northeast of the county of Calhoun.
Residents were invited to avoid windows and move to a basement or an inner room with the lowest background of a robust building.
The warning said that mobile houses would be damaged or destroyed and that flying debris would be dangerous for homeless people.
The Detroit metro has increasing thunderstorms with a line of strong in severe storms expected in the region until 3 am on Friday. The 1.5-inch hail and damaging winds up to 70 MPH were expected with a chance of tornadoes “especially along and west of the United States-23”. The storm will move northeast to 45 mi / h, said the meteorological service. A tornado watch was in force until 5 a.m.
The NWS had already issued tornado surveillance for 37 counties to the west and center of Michigan. The watch expires at 3 am on Friday.
Another series of strong storms in marginally severe was expected on Friday evening and night.
The meteorological service has also issued severe thunderstorm warnings for the counties of Benzie, Manistee, Van Buren, Algan, Ottawa, Mason, Muskegon and Oceana. Gusts up to 70 mph and hail the size of a golf ball were expected in these areas.
“People and animals outside will be injured,” said NWS. “Expect damage caused by hail at roofs, coatings, windows and vehicles. Expect considerable damage.
The hail going up to 1 inch or more diameter is the greatest threat, said NWS from a serious perspective, but “a tornado cannot be excluded”.
The southwest, center-west and center-south regions at the bottom of Michigan are considered to be “improved risk”. The rest of Michigan is considered to be a “slight risk”.
Consumers Energy said that he had more than 500 crew members ready to respond to power outages.
The National Weather Service estimated that the storm would arrive in the following areas at the following period on Thursday:
- 9 p.m. To 10 p.m.: Baldwin, Newaygo, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo and Battle Creek.
- 10 p.m. To 11 p.m.: Big Rapids, Greenville, Ionia, Charlotte and Marshall.
- 11 p.m.: Clare, Mount Pleasant, Alma, Saint Johns, Lansing and Jackson.
Experts urge residents to have access to a warning system that can wake them up overnight. Residents should also be ready to shelter a large hail or large trees that can fall during the storm.
According to the NWS, another series of strong thunderstorms with marginally severe should develop Friday evening in the night as cold traces through the region. Hail could fall back to southwest Michigan. Diurnal summits should reach the 1980s during most of the state.
Fresh temperatures are expected on Saturday, with summits in the 1960s. The winding conditions were in forecasts, with gusts up to 30-40 MPH.
Sunday evening, temperatures at the bottom of Michigan could go back below frost with the possible frost, mainly for areas in the north of the United States-10, said NWS.
mreinhart@detroitnews.com
@max_detroitnews
